Golf driving-machine.



J. H. NOTT.

GOLF DRlViNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm AUG.2 19x5.

'1 ,21 0,970. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

u WE T5 1. H, NOTT.

GULF DRIVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED Aumz. 191s.

Patented Jan. 2,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- -50 j med a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. NOTE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 REX GOLF MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GOLF DRIVING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,123.

To all n it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnru H. Now, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf Driving-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the same, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

It has been found difficult, if not impossible, for persons interested in golf to practice with the long shot clubs, such as driver,- brassy, or iron, except on a links or driving court, and even if such is available it is sometimes diflicult to measure or ascertain the distance covered by the ball. Then, too, the player is not enabled to make an accurate comparison between the results gained by the use of difl'erent clubs, and furthermore the number of golf balls and time required in many instances makes this form of practice undesirable.

This invention relates to a means for accurately determining the impact imparted to a golf ball to measure the distance which would ordinarily be covered by the ball un der normal conditions if allowed to travel unhindered through the air.

It is an object of this invention to construct a device consisting of a golf ball connected by means of a restrainingl cond to a measuring device for indicating substanti all the distance which wouldbecovered b the all when struck by a club were the-ball allowed free flight. I

It is also .amobject of this invention to construct a device embracing a measurin means with au-estraining cord attache" theretohaving connected at its and a golf 1, ball which when struck by a golf club, serves "to move said measuring means against a resilient and frictional resistance to a fixed posztion indicating substantially the impact;

t is also an object of this invention f construct a device embracing a pivotall'y tnember adapted' to move against creasing resistance and -to receive its by a golf operation for effectually measuring the im-- pact to a golf ball imparted by a golf club.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter *more fully described. a

In the drawings, Figure 1 is view of a device embodying the prlnciples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the same in osition for use. Fig. 3 is a detail sections view with parts shown in elevation taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, and showing the operation in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cable or line connection to the movable measuring arm. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the sling for securely holding the ball. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing a modified construction differentiated from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an inner face view of a go f ball attached in the sling. Fig. 9 is a side view thereof.

5 shown in the drawings, the frame of the machine consists of a base, the extremia top planbolts or rmit a swinging movement to an arm or i ever 8, said arm being mounted upon a pivot pin or bolt 9, extending between said respective,frame members at the lower ccir tral portion thereof. Mounted between said res ieetive frame members 5 and ti, and in closed thereby is a curved resilient bar l0, the ends of which are titted into recessed lugs 1 1, formed on the interior of one of said frame members and which is braced intermediate its ends by clips '12. lhe are of curvature of said resilient bar is eccentric with respect to the pivot pin 9, of the lever 8, so that as the lever swings from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to the dotted line position, a curved extension 13, which is formed on said lever, wedgingly engages F-rllil resilient bar after the lever moves to 1nd beyond upright position, so that a continually increasing resistance is thus offered to the movement of said lever. The outer end of said arm 8, is extended in opposite directions to afford substantially a T, and one end of said extended portion is yoked as indicated by the reference numeral 14, to receive pivoted therein a lever 15. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a series of gradations 1G, is formed on the upper por tion of the respective frame members 5 and 6, to indicate the distance which would have been taken by the ball in flight were it not lit) restrained in the manner hereinafter described. F or this purpose a sling of leatl'ier or other suitable material. denoted by the reference numeral 17, is providwl. and is adapted to engage around a bull l leaving one side of the same exposed and in be retaincd thereon by a line or cord 19, engaged through apertures provided in thrsling. with the other end of the cord, which may be from ten to twenty feet in length, at taehcd to a coiled spring '20, which is in turn connected to the lever 15. The cord 19. is so connected through the ends of the sling 17, that tension on said cord serves to further tighten the sling around the ball.

'When' the device is used, a mat 21, may be placed along side of the frame in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and the ball laid t ereon, to be struck by a golf club. The line or cord 19, is then laid evenly in front bf the machine to run out easily Without tangling when the ball is driven away from the machine.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, 'l, have shown a pin 22, secured in the. lever 8, to bear upon the upper curved portion of the spring 10, to replace the integral curved portion 13, already described.

The operation is as follows: The hall is laid upon the mat. 21, in a convenient position. to be struck by a golf club, and when so struck flies outwardly until the limit of the cord 0111116 19, is reached, whereupon the pivoted arm or lever 8, is caused to swing in the frame, bearing wlth a certain resistance upon the resilient bar 10, and when the ball comes to rest, said arm or lever 8, is frictionally held in itsi extreme position of move went. The gradations 1G, denote what would have been the distance flight of the ball, and of course the ball may then be drawn back by means of the cord 9, and the practice stroke repeated. This enables a player to make comparisons of shots with clubs of different length and weight to as certain which are most suitable for use. The lever 15, connected on the upper end of the arm 8, serves to impart the proper pull transmitted from the cord or line 19, and the small coiled spring 20, prevents sudden jerking stress being applied to the cord 19, which might possibly cause breaking of the same.

The frame of the device is preferably made comparatively heavy, so as not to be afiected by sudden stoppage. oi the ball in flight. The device capable of many uses, notonly in golf instruction and practice, but may also be used for indoor golf games.

I am aware that various details of con struction may be varied through a. wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1..In a device of the class described, a. sling adapted to be attached to a golf ball leaving one side of the latter exposed, a line (,()llH(-)t"lt'tl with said sling, and measuring nuchanism connected to said line to check 10L the flight of the golf ball, when struck, to measure the energy of flight thereof.

2. In a. device of the class described, a

sling adapted to be attached to a golf ball leaving one side of the latter exposed, a line connected with'saidsling and forming the means for retaining the latter in its enga gemeat with the golf ball; and measurin mechanism connected to said line to chec the flight of the golf ball, when struck, to measure the energy of flight thereof.

3. In a. device of the class. described, a line adapted to be attached to a golf ball, a movable arm to which said line is connected. and means offering a progressivel in- 5 creasing resistance to'the movement 0' said arm and acting to hold said arm in any,,adjustcd position to indicate the energy of flight of the golf ball.

4. In a device of line adapted to be attached to a golf ball, a resilient element attached to said line, a mov-x able arm to which said resilient element is connected, and means otl'crinl a progressively increasing resistance to t e movement of said arm and acting to hold said arm in any adjusted position to indicate the energy of flight of the golf ball.

5. In a device of the class described, a

line adapted to be attached to a golf ball, 91130- the class described, B51720 Lhv golf ball. when sl-ruvh; :lml lu hun -um the energy of [light thereof. 

